Feeding of a machine with a turret supporting removable magazines distributing strips by means of an external source

ABSTRACT

A machine for feeding products in strip form to a photographic printer. The machine includes a plurality of feed magazines disposed on a rotary turret. When it is desired to use an external strip feed source, for example a large-capacity magazine, use is made of an interfacing device defining a guide path connecting the discharge slot on the external strip feed source to the inlet slot on the machine. At least part of the guide path of the interfacing device is rotatable with the rotary turret.

The invention relates to the feeding of machines with strips andparticularly machines having multiple feed magazines disposed on aturret to enable the strip of paper being used, and which comes from oneof the magazines, to be changed automatically. More particularly, thestrips used are photosensitive products such as paper and the machine isa photographic printer.

Photographic printers using loaders are well known. However, the loadersare installed manually on the machines and their weight limits thelengths of strip available in such loaders. Large-capacity loaders whichcannot be moved manually have therefore been produced. Such loaders aredescribed for example in WO 91/19222 and, between the loaders and themachine, an interface is used similar to the one described in U.S. Pat.No. 5,383,591.

High-output photographic printers also exist on the market, for examplethe KODAK CLAS 35 printer. In this type of machine, the photosensitivepaper strip feed is obtained by means of loaders. The loaders aredisposed on a turret so that the magazine used as a strip dispenser canbe changed automatically. A splicing station enables the new strip to beconnected to the strip already fed in during use. Since the operation ofthese machines is controlled by a computer, it has been easy to modifythe operation provided in order to take maximum advantage of thecapabilities of the machine. It is advantageous to dispose on the feedturret chargers fitted with strips of photosensitive paper of differentqualities, for example matt or glossy, or having different grades. Thecomputer automatically manages the feeding of the strips so as to matchthe type or quality of the strip to the order to be filled. To do this,the strip is cut during feeding, the turret is rotated so as to presentanother strip to the feed station, the strip of paper with the newquality is spliced on and the length of strip desired is delivered. Thisseries of operations is repeated each time it is required to change thequality of the paper in order to produce the prints ordered.

It has been noted that generally great lengths of strips ofphotosensitive paper of a given quality are used, compared with thelengths of strips of photosensitive paper with the other qualities, andthat it would be desirable to be able to use large-capacity loaders forthis type of quality.

The aim of the invention is to provide a machine which resolves theabove problems without losing the advantages in use provided by themachine. To this end, the machine comprises: a) an inlet slot forreceiving a strip and directing it to a station where it is to be used;b) a feed device provided with a rotary turret able to receive severalremovable feed magazines containing rolls of material in strip form; c)a means for driving, towards the inlet slot, a strip coming from a givenfeed magazine; and d) a means for interrupting the feed of the strip forthe purpose of changing the feed magazine used. It is characterised inthat it also comprises an interfacing device arranged so as to connectthe inlet slot to an external strip feed source, in that the saidinterfacing device comprises a guide path for the strip coming from theexternal source and in that the said guide path has a part able torotate with the turret.

In the preferred embodiment according to the invention, for whichphotosensitive strips are used, the interfacing device comprises a firstpart for connecting the external source to the part of the path able torotate with the turret when this path part is used, the said first partbeing able to tilt between a first position so as to provide alightproof path during use and a second position situated outside thespace defined by the removable magazines disposed on the turret when thelatter rotates. The interfacing device comprises a means for returningthe strip situated in the part able to rotate with the turret to theexternal source when use is made of the means for interrupting the feedof the strip coming from the external source.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from areading of the following description given with reference to theaccompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 shows diagrammatically a machine according to the invention usinga strip coming from an external source;

FIG. 2 shows diagrammatically a machine according to the invention usinga strip coming from a removable magazine disposed on a rotary turret;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the satellite part of the interfacingdevice;

FIG. 4 shows a diagrammatic cross section of the satellite part shown inFIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the main part of the interfacingdevice used in the invention;

FIG. 6 shows a view in cross section of the main part shown in FIG. 5;

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a detail in plan view and elevation of a mechanismincluded in the main part of the interfacing device.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show diagrammatically the feed device 10 for a machine 11,only one part of which is outlined.

The feed device supplies a strip 12 to an inlet slot 13 on the machinein order to make this strip reach a utilisation station (not shown). Inthe embodiment shown, the inlet slot 13 on the machine is disposed inthe vicinity of a splicing station 14 enabling the upstream end of thestrip which has already been fed in to be joined to the downstream endof the new strip to be used. Advantageously, the splicing station 14 hasa cropping tool 15 enabling the upstream and downstream ends of thestrips to be cut.

The known feed device on the machine comprises a rotary turret 20 onwhich magazines 21, containing strips to be supplied to the machine, arefixed temporarily.

In a particular mode of functioning of the machine, the variousmagazines 21 contain strips of different qualities. The term "quality ofthe strip" refers to various characteristics, either chemical orphysical, of the strip. In the present application, two strips withdifferent thicknesses or different surface states may be termed stripsof different quality.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the machine is a photographicprinting machine and the strips fed in are strips of photographic paperwith different surface states or different grades.

In some uses, much greater quantities of a strip of a given quality areused than strips of another quality. In such uses, it is advantageous tobe able to supply to a machine a strip coming from an external source30. The external source may advantageously be similar to the magazinedescribed in the application WO 91/19222. The strip coming from thismagazine is transmitted to the machine 11 by means of an interface 40.This interface may be of the type described in the application U.S. Pat.No. 5,383,591. However, as will be seen later, other functions have beenincorporated in it.

In order to transmit the strip coming from the interface 40, the machinecomprises an interfacing device 50 arranged so as to connect thedischarge slot of the interface 40 to the inlet slot 13 on the machine.The interfacing device defines a guide path 51.

As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the machine is equipped with a movementdevice 16. This device moves the strip coming either out of theremovable magazines 21 or out of the interfacing device 50 to thesplicing station 14, whilst maintaining lightproofness.

In the particular case of a photographic printing machine, the path mustbe lightproof so as not to fog the photosensitive paper which is movedinside the interfacing device 50.

According to the invention, the interfacing device comprises at leasttwo parts 22, 23. A main part 22 which is arranged so as to replace oneof the removable chargers 21 and which is fixed to the turret 20 in thesame way as the magazines 21. The main part 22 defines part of the guidepath 51. Advantageously the region of the main part 22 whereby the stripleaves the guide path 51 is arranged in a similar manner to the regionof the removable magazines 21 through which the strip contained in thesemagazines is extracted from the latter. This arrangement makes itpossible not to modify the remainder of the machine. This main part willbe described in more detail later.

According to the invention, the interfacing device also comprises asatellite part 23. The satellite part 23 enables the discharge slot ofthe interface 40 to be connected to the main part 22 and defines anotherpart of the guide path 51. As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, thesatellite part 23 comprises a guide roller 24 and the main part 22comprises a guide roller 25. The guide rollers 24 and 25 rotate freely,which avoids damaging the strip as it passes. The guide path thereforeconsists of a part which is practically immobile with respect to themachine 11 and another part able to rotate with the turret 20 when it isdesired to change the quality of the strip.

In the preferred embodiment according to the invention, the strips arephotosensitive products. Because of this, the guide path must beisolated from light so as not to fog the photosensitive product. Inorder to afford this lightproofness whilst maintaining a path in atleast two parts, one of which is fixed to the turret, the satellite part23 is articulated at 60 so as to tilt between a first position in whichthis satellite part cooperates with the main part 22 and provides alightproof path and a second position in which it is moved away from themain part so as not to interfere with the space defined by the magazines21 disposed on the turret when the latter rotates in order to change thequality of the strip. This tilting is obtained by means of a cylinder 61controlled by the machine logic (not shown).

The operating principle of the machine according to the invention duringthe feed stage will now be described briefly. When the operator desiresto use a long strip coming from the external source 30, a machinecommand enables him to dispose the main part 22 of the interfacingdevice according to the invention in the operating position as shown inFIG. 1. Once the main part 22 is in place, the cylinder 61 is used totilt the satellite part 23 into its first position in which thissatellite part 23 cooperates with the main part 22 in order to obtainlightproofness for the guide path 51. Then the operator inserts thestrip coming from the magazine 30 into the interface 40, as described inU.S. Pat. No. 5,383,591, between the drive roll 42 and its pressure roll41. It will be noted that, in the interface 40 proposed, another driveroll 43 has been disposed, which cooperates with another pressure roll44 and the function of which will be seen later. A control logic (notshown) associated with the interface 40 makes it possible to insert thestrip between the rolls 43 and 44, to bring the pressure roll 44 anddrive roll 43 into contact and then to lower the loop-forming rollers 45which, at the time of start-up, had been disposed by the control logicfor the interface 40 in their position shown in broken lines. Once theloops have been formed, the strip is fed by the drive roll 43 andpressure roll 44 into the satellite part 23, then to the main part 22and finally to the inlet slot 13 on the machine.

When the strip is fed from the external source 30 or external magazine,the guide roller 25 is at a distance from a feed drum 72, as indicatedbelow. A guide member 71, to which the guide roller 25 is fixed, makesit possible to divert the strip of photosensitive product so as todirect it to the inlet slot 13 on the machine. Once the strip reachesthe inlet slot 13 on the machine 11, its transport is stopped. Transportof the strip is obtained by means of a determined time delay on theaction of the drive roll 43. At this moment, the guide roller 25 and itsguide member 71 are tilted about the articulation 70 so as to grip thestrip between the guide roller and the drum 72, which will be describedin more detail below and which can be driven in rotation in onedirection or the other by means of the machine spindle 80. Then thepressure roll 44 is moved away from the drive roll 43 and a clutch (notshown) releases the roll 43, which becomes free to rotate and servesonly as a guide roller. Finally, the strip emerging from the main partcan be taken over by the movement device 16 on the machine.

Obviously position sensors are disposed on the guide path 51 and areconnected to the control logic for the interface 40 and machine 11 so asto control and monitor the progress of the strip of paper. In thepreferred embodiment, two position sensors 112, 113 are also used,disposed in the vicinity of the two ends of the satellite part 23 of theinterfacing device 50.

When these operations are being carried out, the machine is able to feedthe strip in order to carry out successive printings. If the operatordesires to change the quality of the strip and use a strip contained inone of the removable loaders 21, the machine interrupts the supply ofthe strip coming from the external source 30 and, by means of thecropping tool 15, cuts the said strip. The drive roll 43 and pressureroll 44 are brought back into contact with each other, the guide roller25 and its guide member 71 are once again moved away from the drum 72and the control logic for the interface and machine causes the driveroll 43 to rotate in reverse, which has the effect of moving the rollers45 downwards and returning the downstream end of the strip of paperwhich has just been cut towards the interface 40. The "backwards"movement of the strip of paper is interrupted only when there is nostrip of paper in the main part 22, that is when the downstream end ofthe strip is situated between the units 112 and 113. At this moment thecylinder 61 is used so as to tilt the satellite part 23 into its secondposition, a position in which it does not interfere with the spacedefined by the loaders 21 disposed on the turret 20 when the latter isrotated. The operator is then able to dispose whichever of the magazines21 has been chosen in its operating position as shown in FIG. 2. Themovement device 16 on the machine is then used and takes over the stripcoming from this magazine 21 so as to bring it to the splicing station14, where the downstream end is connected to the upstream end of thestrip fed in previously. Obviously the splicing station is not essentialif the machine has been designed differently, for example to deal withindividual pieces corresponding to the format of the final images.

When the operator desires to use once again the strip coming from theexternal source 30, the machine interrupts the feed of the strip comingfrom the magazine 21, cuts this strip, which is partially returnedinside the magazine 21 by means of the movement device 16, which thenruns in reverse. The main part 22 of the interfacing device 50 is thendisposed in the operating position as shown in FIG. 1, then the cylinder61 is actuated so as to tilt the satellite part 23 into its firstposition and, as described previously, the strip contained in thissatellite part 23 is returned towards the main part 22 and towards theinlet slot 13 on the machine, where this strip is once again taken overby the movement device 16 on the machine 11. It is clear that, duringthis feed, the rollers 45 are returned to their previous position, anintermediate position in which the function which they fulfil is the onedescribed in the application U.S. Pat. No. 5,383,591.

The satellite part 23 and the main part 22 of the interfacing device 50will now be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 8. As can be seen inFIGS. 3 and 4, the satellite part 23 consists principally of two plates101, 102 connected together so as to define a part of the guide path 51.The upstream part 106 of the satellite part 23 projects beyond thecasing of the machine 11 and enters the discharge slot of the interface40 into the inside of this interface. Advantageously, this upstream part106 has a funnel shape so as to facilitate the insertion of the strip ofpaper into the said satellite part 23. The satellite part 23 is mountedon the machine casing by means of pins 104, 105 so as to allow itstilting, which is controlled by the cylinder 61. The pins are held by asupport 107 fixed to the machine casing.

In order to obtain lightproofness, a flexible sealing joint surroundingthe discharge slot of the interface 40 is disposed between the casing ofthe interface 40 and the casing of the machine 11. In addition, anelastic joint 108 is fitted, held by the support 107 and pressed tightlyagainst the satellite part 23. It is clear that any other arrangementmay be used to provide this lightproofness.

The satellite part 23 has, at its downstream 109, a rounded wall servingto divert the strip of paper when the latter is moved by the rolls 43,44 during the feeding of the strip of paper. In addition, this end 109has a guide roll 24 able to rotate freely so that the surface of thestrip will not be damaged when the latter is transported.

It will also be noted that this end 109 also has an end piece 110, theexternal walls of which are sloping and which has a thin lip 111 servingto establish lightproofness when the satellite part 23 and main part 22interact.

Reference will now be made to FIGS. 5 to 8 in order to understand betterthe structure of the main part 22 of the interfacing device 50 used inthe invention. The main part consists of a lightproof frame formed bytwo side plates 120, 121 secured to each other on the one hand by rods122, 123 which, as can be seen in FIG. 6, have longitudinal grooves, andon the other hand by a support 124, a top piece 125 and a casing 126.The support 124, top piece 125 and casing 126 also have grooves. Thegrooves are designed so as to receive front panels 131, 132, a rearpanel 133, a top panel 134 and a bottom panel 135. The panels also enterthe grooves made in the side plates 120 and 121. This type of mountingmakes it possible to ensure lightproofness whilst avoiding welding.Obviously any other type of fixing providing lightproofness could beused.

Advantageously, the main part is constructed so as to occupy the spaceleft vacant when one of the removable magazines 21, which is normallyfixed to the turret 20, is removed. In addition, it is advantageous forthe system for fixing the removable magazines be used to fix the mainpart 22. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the support 124 hasan extension 140 which cooperates with the shaft 141 of the turret 20 inthe same way as certain parts of the removable magazines cooperate withthis shaft 141. In addition, the main part 22 has a hollow shaft 150which surrounds one of the drive spindles 80, 81, 82 on the machine. Itis therefore easy to slip the magazines 21 or main part 22 onto thespindles, rotation being prevented by the interaction of the extension140 with the turret shaft. In order to simplify the operation of themachine, it is advantageous for the main part always to be associatedwith the same machine shaft. To this end, between the turret 20 and mainpart 22, a locating device is disposed, which may take the form of a pin(not shown) cooperating with a corresponding hole (not shown) made inthe turret 20.

The top piece 125 is surmounted by a frame 144, the shape of which isdesigned to interact with the end piece 110 and provide lightproofness.It will be noted that the frame 144 has a recess 145 surrounding theslot through which the strip passes and that this recess is arranged soas to receive the lip 111 of the end piece 110. In this way, between thesatellite part 23 and main part 22, a V-shaped junction is definedthrough which light is not able to pass.

The main part comprises a drum 72 connected to the shaft 150 by atoothed belt 151 so as to be able to be driven in rotation by themachine control unit.

Advantageously, the top part of the drum 72 is practically at the samelevel as the bottom of the casing 126.

A cranked arm is articulated at one of its ends at 70 and at its otherend supports the guide roller 25. As can be seen in FIG. 6, the crankedarm carries a guide 71 defining the guide path 51 by means of two walls73. The end of the wall situated in the vicinity of the guide roller 25outside the latter is slightly curved (FIG. 6). The cranked arm is actedupon by a spring 75 so as to move the guide roller 75 away from the drum72. In this position the cranked arm adopts a position shown in brokenlines in FIG. 6, in which the cranked arm is practically bearing againstthe top piece 125. The guide defined by the walls 73 therefore coincideswith the opening in the frame 144. In this way the strip is guided afterdiversion by the rounded wall of the downstream end 109 of the satellitepart as far as the end of the cranked arm carrying the guide roller 25.The guide 71 has, at its bottom part, a region which is slightly curvedso as to bend the strip and cause it to enter the casing 126, where itslides over the bottom of this casing and then emerges from this casingthrough an opening 127. As can be seen in FIG. 6, the bottom of thecasing 126 extends sufficiently towards the drum 72 for thephotosensitive paper not to be jammed between the drum 72 and the bottomof the casing 126.

Once the strip has reached the inlet slot 13, the cranked arm is tiltedby means of a cylinder which moves a lever 251 articulated at 70. Thetilting of this lever 151 moves the cranked arm so as to push the guideroller 25 towards the drum 72. The force exerted by the cylinder issufficient to overcome the force exerted by the spring 75 and press thestrip onto the drum 72 so that any movement of the drum drives thestrip. Once this operation has finished, the pressure roll 44 of theinterface 40 is raised and a clutch (not shown) disengages theconnection between a motor and the drive roll 43, which is thustransformed into a guide roller. The interface 40 thereafter functionsas described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,383,591.

In an advantageous embodiment, the interfacing device 50 is able, likethe machine, to receive strips of various widths. However, thisnecessitates a more precise guidance at the inlet slot of the machine11. In order to achieve this more precise guidance, the casing 126 isprovided with two additional lateral guides 160, which it is possible tomove by means of a control lever 161 projecting beyond one of the wallsof the casing. The lateral guides 160 are L-shaped so as to limit thelateral and vertical movements of the strip.

The lever 161 is guided on the one hand by the opening in the wall ofthe casing allowing it to pass and on the other hand by a collar securedto the bottom of the casing.

Advantageously, the lever 161 has several positioning grooves 163 whichinteract with a spring ball 164.

Advantageously, when the strip coming from the external source startsoff, the guides 160 are brought closer together by rotation aboutrespective offset axes.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, one of the edges of the striphas a fixed lateral position and serves as a reference. The shaft 165,serving an articulation for the guide 160, is therefore fixed withrespect to the casing. The shaft 166, serving as an articulation for theother lateral guide 160, is secured to the control lever 161.

The temporary bringing closer together of the ends of the lateral guides160 at the time of starting off is obtained by means of the pins 167,which are secured to the guides 160 and which enter a groove 168 whichcan be moved. In the embodiment shown, the groove 168 forms part of anassembly with a runner 169 provided with a rack engaging with a gear170. The gear 170 is driven by another rack 171 carried by a slide 172acted upon at rest by a compression spring 173. At rest the lateralguides 160 adopt a position in which their respective downstream endsare separated from each other by the action of the compression spring173. The distance between the downstream ends of the two lateral guides160 is greater than the width of the strip by approximately 3 mm whenthese ends are brought closer together.

When the interfacing device 50 is in operation, the cranked arm is inthe position shown in solid lines in FIG. 6 and does not bear on theslide 172. The compression spring then enables the downstream ends ofthe additional guides 160 to be moved away from each other and thedistance is greater than the width of the band by approximately 20 mm.When the cranked arm is no longer tilted by the corresponding cylinder,the traction spring 75 causes it to tilt and it comes into contact withthe slide 172 so as to move it and thus form a guide passage with asmaller width.

We claim:
 1. A machine comprising:a) an inlet slot for receiving a strip and directing the strip to a station where the strip is to be used; b) a feed device provided with a rotary turret able to receive a plurality of movable feed magazines containing rolls of material in strip form; c) a means for driving, towards the inlet slot, a strip coming from one of said plurality of feed magazines; and d) a means for interrupting the feed of the strip for the purpose of changing the feed magazines used; e) an interfacing device arranged so as to connect the inlet slot to an external strip feed source, said interfacing device including a guide path for the strip coming from the external strip feed, said guide path including a part able to rotate with the turret.
 2. Machine according to claim 1, in which the strip is a photosensitive strip.
 3. A machine according to claim 2, in which the interfacing device comprises a first means for connecting the external source to the part of the guide path able to rotate with the turret when this part is used, said first means being articulated so as to tilt between a first position in which this first means provides a lightproof path during the use of the external strip feed source and a second position in which this first means is situated outside the space defined by all the removable feed magazines when the turret rotates.
 4. A machine according to claim 1 wherein said means for interrupting also cuts the strip thereby creating a leading end, the interfacing device including means for moving the leading end of the strip towards the external source when said means for interrupting the feed of the strip is actuated, so that the part of the guide path which rotates with the turret no longer contains any strip.
 5. A machine according to claim 4, further comprising a guide device defining a narrow path when the strip is started off and a path of normal width when the external source is used.
 6. A method for supplying a product in strip form coming from a source external to a machine having an inlet and fitted with feed magazines disposed on a rotary turret for the purpose of disposing the feed magazines one after another in a position in which the feed magazines are able to supply the strip contained therein to the machine, the discharge from the source external to the machine being connected to the inlet to the machine by means of a path, at least one part of the path being fixed to the rotary turret and rotatable with the rotary turret. 